You can custom order a KOGA WorldTraveller-S online! You would just need to get the Redshift stem, Cane Creek seatpost and Ergon grips separately, everything else is available in the configurator: www.koga.com/en/koga-signature
@@hamburger-fries If you are in the U.S. there is a KOGA dealer in Santa Barbara , California. The website isn't updated very often so there isn't much to it. Commuter Bicycles is the name
@@Cyclingabout Thank you! I will contact Koga and see how I can get this arranged for Japan. One issue I have is that Japan has some of the steepest roads in the world so I will need to get a different gearing system from what I can see. How does your bike handle extremely steep inclines?
@@charliekendall4288 Thanks Charlie!!! I will contact Koga directly. I am based in Japan which has been a challenge to say the least when it comes to importing bikes. I had a horrible time getting a Specialized touring bike into Japan.
I work at Koga, very helpful to see your unbiased opinion! You are helping out a lot of people getting into over the world cycling, my job is to provide a good setup for these people, and I love my job, everyone is different, and therefore every bike is different, Thanks!
One suggestion. Please upload more high res pictures on your website from different angles. Under marketed. Wouldn't have heard of it if not for Alee Denham.
The only cyclist whose word I take as Gospel. If Alee approves, don't question it. Because unlike others who ride 30 kms and read out of company brochure, Alee just circumnavigates the earth before a long term review. :) I want to order the Denham bars for my Marin Four Corners. I turned it into a flat bar bike after your video and have never been happier!
I could watch and listen to Alee Denham for hours. Very smart guy and talks very well. If I owned a bike company he would be riding for me. Alee can also haul ass on a road bike. Alee needs to bring his mountain bike to BC ( Nelson BC for the goods ) Thanks for all your amazing info and of course thx for the massive amount of time you put into all your great videos.
There has been several attempts to make handlebars more suitable than conventional handlebars for bikepacking, similar to that of this Koga. I would love to see a handlebar comparison video comparing all the latest handlebars for long bikepacking journeys (from surly, redshift etc)
Another really handy review by someone who has experience the bike for long distances in all conditions. The details of the bikes in Alee books are well worth a read and supports him too.
Very happy to see Koga again! I am not a mountainbiker or bikepacker so those topicks aren't very interesting to me. Glad to see the belt is doing so high mileage! Clearly the Koga is a premium product built to last.
Thanks Alee. Another great video. I agree completely with your comments about your handlebars. However, I've only been on the road for 3 weeks with my new world traveller. Also, contrary to some commenters here, I've found Aloys at Koga to be super responsive and helpful. Thanks again
I am using the Schwalbe Super Moto-X too. Now over 30000 km with my bike and not a single flat. I have replaced my back tire a few times with a new one, prior to big trips (North cape, Turkey) and the put the used back-tire on the front wheel. I am 100% happy with my Super Moto-X. But if this Pick-up is said to have better protection, I would like to give it a try next year! Thanks for your video!
Great bike, but as we are talking about a $6000 bike I'm not surprised it's good quality. In fact, I am mostly surprised by the poor construction of the USB port...
I use a fully customized Bergamont Sweep MGN with Alfine 11 on 32mm Grand Prix 5000 tubeless tires. Pricewise I am - even with all changes that I made - a lot under 6000€. The bike itself was 1200€ and most of my changes were not necessary but just nice to have. Of course I am unable to ride gravel roads - i need to stay on tarmac - but I ride it hard and considering I already put 50k on it, it is still a great and fast bike to travel! I would not want to give it away ever, I am completely in love with my bike. For my next bike travel I think I will try my Bullitt EP8 Cargo Bike.
This is bizarre, I just picked my Koga up on Saturday morning. 😁 Wheeled it out the shop, threw my leg over it and rode the 200km home. Single track, cycle trails, several miles on a mountain bike trail getting funny looks. The bike ate it all up and I've gotta say, it was very easy to ride. Never felt out of control or unstable.
@@frederik0014 I ordered mine in early November, got it in late December instead of February as originally thought. They seem to be faster than anticipated.
Great video, very informative. Thinking it would be fun to see a vid by someone going to their local bike shop buy everything all at once including bike and do a cross continent ride, using all what’s available at that moment.
Love your Content! This is spectacularly timed as well since I'm considering purchase of an Koga World Traveller-S . I was also considering the Kona Sutra but the company is having major supply chain issues at least as it seemingly pertains to my area of the world.
Great video and good to learn about your experiences. I noticed in an early part of the video a shot of you carrying your bike across the stream. It can be hard to carry a fully laden bike holding it by the top tube and lifting. Have you ever tried lifting and carrying the bike by grabbing the right chain stay behind the crank? I find it way more efficient and easier for carrying up and down stairs or for a longer distance. Much less effort and strain on the arms and back. Even for a bike fully laden bike with panniers.
I know you're attached to the orange, but that viper green is baller. I'm already looking forward to a photo in front of some tropical forest waterfall.
Great to see the Koga is holding up so well after all the abuse you put it through ;) Interesting plan to tweak the Denham bars. Less back sweep and the angled up bullhorns sound perfect. Will this come to fruition anytime soon? All the Best!
I have no idea. I have submitted my ideas to KOGA and if they like them, they will get some samples, safety test them rigorously, send them to multiple riders to test out, and then bring them to market. It's a pretty slow process, so I wouldn't expect anything soon.
@@Cyclingabout I can see why that will take it's sweet time! My current handlebar setup is pretty spot on with a 23 deg back sweep Moon Bar and the, too short, SQLab inner bar ends. Would be great to have that in one package including dedicated bullhorns. I'd be curious to give the new Denham Bars a spin if they become available! Not too sure about the upsweep though as I like too keep my shoulder blades low and tucked in.
I'm really going to miss the orange, but I have a feeling the green will grow on me! 💚 You definitely won't be disappointed with a belt drive, gearbox drivetrain. Just make sure the frame you choose is built super stiff, so the belt cannot walk off the rear cog. This is a bigger problem on mountain bikes due to the higher torque going through the drivetrain. 👍🏻
@@Cyclingabout I'm looking at a small frame builder out of Texas and they do steel and titanium frames. I'm planning on getting the titanium frame. They do offer their builds with a Rolhoff and belt drive so I think I should be good. Yeah the orange is a real looker for sure. I am a big fan of the green though or a super deep blue.
Great! Make sure to ask for the largest diameter tandem-spec chainstays and seatstays possible. I cannot emphasise the importance of stiffness enough for getting the most out of belt drivetrains - many belt bikes are not built properly.
@@Cyclingabout the chainstay is super short which is something I like. The bike can be run as short as 420mm. From what I've seen they have their titanium chainstays 3d printed and it's only one type. Now as for the tubing I can ask for thicker tubes and so one. I'll definitely have a long talk with them about the belt drive setup then. I'm sold on their bike because I can do custom geo so I can have a steeper seat tube and slacker head tube.
If you're buying an MTB to ride off road without cargo, I'd recommend staying away from hub gears. I ran an Alfine 11 on a not particularly light steel hardtail for a while, and the difference how lively the bike became when I swapped to a 3x10 drivetrain was literally night and day. I got rid of the Alfine because it was unusably spongy in 1st and especially 2nd gear though, so it's no substitute for a Rohloff in performance terms anyway. The extra weight a geared hub adds to the back axle makes the rear wheel hang up harder on every ridge on the trail than a derailleur setup. The weight of a hub gear is irrelevant once you're loaded for touring though. I'd go for a pinion gearbox if I wanted a gates drive on a MTB, but nothing has caught my eye yet. With a belt drive you'll need a frame with a rear triangle that can be opened to fit the belt through too, so most MTB frames can't run a Gates drive without serious modification. There are other belt drives that can be opened and closed like a bike chain, but I have no idea whether they're up with Gates in longevity.
The bike is holding up well -we're very pleased to hear that. Now, how about your knee joints? How much cartilage have you left? What about the hip joints? There is an excellent chance your Koga frame will outlast them all...
@@Cyclingabout If you think I am joking, think again. Human joints are biological structures, and (unlike mechanical structures) have the ability to self-regenerate. However, the mileage you do is so grotesquely high that it may outpace the self-repairing ability of your joints. With time, you'll be looking for new knees. In the end, it depends on the genetic lottery you've been dealt, but if you got a bad hand, you'll learn too late. A reasonable precaution would be to x-ray your knees and ask an orthopedist for an evaluation. If all looks good now, repeat regularly for comparison purposes. PS This advice you are getting from someone currently recovering after 2 hips replacement surgery ( and former sport and exercise addict)
I don't consider 1000km per month to be excessive at all. From what I understand, cycling is very easy on your joints compared to almost every other form of movement - hence why cycling is used for so many forms of rehabilitation. But shoot through some medical studies and I'll certainly take a read (I take my health quite seriously).
@@Cyclingabout Keep Wishing Good Luck. I Always Wanted To Travel. But, The Way The Economy Is Right Now Is Bad Luck For Me. Another Words, I Will Travel A Way From Action And Just Travel To The Forest And The Mountains And Build A Campfire And Build A Survival Shelter For Myself And Even Cook My Own Food And Purification Pills For Water. And, Stay A Way From People Who, Like To Fight. I Just Like Mind Own Business And Do My Thing. Just Live And Survive In Any Disaster That Comes Along.
Buddy, that is petrified wood! Where were you? Also, I have a nearly stock early 2ks long haul (no disks) with drops. Done A LOT of miles. Isn't biking amazing!!! Your videos are very informative! I get the wobbles. I thought Surly was stiff. :( I did not know shock absorption on the bars was possible! I wondered about that charger. I just use a battery and man things are heavy! You videos are great!!!
Hi Allee 👋. That was a thorough overview of the bike. How long have you been riding the bike to rack up 30k kilometers? It looks great for everything you put it through. 😬🚲 I've watched all your videos ✅and I know where it's been. Honestly, I think I would prefer the Tout Terrain because I don't like riding on aluminum for long distances. I have carbon fiber road bikes with Spinergy wheels which ride like butter. I have arthritis and this setup makes a huge difference for me. I don't ache after 100+ miles. I bought a Kona Sutra for a US coast to coast ride which will be all on pavement. If I'd known about the Tout Terrain before I bought it I would have gotten that instead. In the meantime I'm saving up for the Tout Terrain. Both the Koga and Tout Terrain have feature upgrades that will make riding more efficient like the belt drive, Rohloff hubs and the charging system. Those are things I definitely want and need. Be safe and keep posting videos. 👍☮️🌞🌟🏔🏕️🚴
$6000.00? When I raced pro, yea, the bikes were expensive, every second was valuable. Today, I ride new $300 to $400 mountain bikes converted to the road for a total of about $1000. I have found over 200,000 miles that the China aluminum frames are all consistently dependable no matter what the cost or name of manufacturer on the bike. I have broken many frames from high millage use: Specialized, Trek Motobecane, Schwinn from the old days. Lock out forks control ride quality as well as 26x2 inch tires air pressure all depending on road conditions. Custom build: Schwalbe MarathonPlus tires / Flat bars, no rise / Adjustable angle stem / Profile aero bars / bar ends / cushioned bar tape / Vuelta off road wheels / rear rack/trunk bag / SPD pedals / custom geared cassette. At a touring maintained speed, the fat tires don't cause any drag or speed difference, or rougher road surfaces the tires decrease resistance. Yes, need to replace chain every 3000 at a cost of $12, all my bikes are 7, 8 or 9 speed. Aero bars give me high speed at speed or into winds, bar ends a position for upright touring and out of saddle climbing, and flat position for climbing and safe mountain descents. I no longer ride road bikes, the fragile tires/wheels and less hand positions, and bad/gravel road shock of high pressure tires...just don't make sense at all anymore. Since there is zero speed difference between a lightweight road bike and my 32 pound mountain bike converted road bike, and all plus comfort and utility of big tires...why ride a road bike? My tire flat rate has gone from road bike using Continental GatorSkins or Specialized Armadillo of 3 flats a week...to....one flat every 2 or 3 years with Schwalbe MarathonPlus 26x2 (10,000 miles a year). The dependability of my converted bikes is as high as ever, more dependable than any $15,000.00+ race bike. Good simple maintenance of Shimano Acera/Alivio/Tektro Aquilla, SuntourXCT, Ritchey, SPD, is all I need for trouble free riding. To bad the bike industry continues to make more and more stupid bikes every year priced for idiots and novices who think money buys them quality, speed and dependability. One year riding my converted bike and they are angry as a hell spending $5000 on bikes that break down and are uncomfortable to ride on any road.
This tyres must feel very stiff!? My Smart Sams have 1 layer of this nylon protection on the sidewalls and it is harsher then I would prefer. This ones you are using have 6 layers 😳 🤯 it must feel really harsh. Probably the only reason you are able to use this tires off-road is because you use this vibration damping seatpost and stem otherwise it would probably shake your brains out. That said, I am glad you found a good configuration for your bike, for me it feels like a constant trial and error thing, every trip I do I come back with a different idea and end up upgranding something on my bike. I am already upgrading the upgrades, It is like a vicious circle I guess. 😰
I love your videos! One thing I was curious about, do you bring a few cycling bibs with you when you travel? Do you reuse the same ones the next day? How many days would you go before washing them? Thanks!
You can buy a nice brand new 300cc motorcycle ,for the same amouth of money. And there is way more work, material, complicated craftmanship,desing drawings + electonic involved in there compared to a bicycle, thoses bicycles prices are making no sense ! BTW i owned 2 marinoni, 2 cannondale, one is a road tandem ,and an old miyata 710 . We get robbed i know what I mean. Been cycling almost 60 years now. If you think your material is for a big difference in performance, just ask the badger !!!!
Hi. Not sure what you mean by the "badger", but a little attempt at some perspective here: don't get me wrong, I'm also a motorcyclist, but I think you may be exaggerating the R&D gap just a little. Have you considered the engineering and the innovation behind the Rohloff hub and the frames to match it? You're also forgetting the relationship between sales volume and pricing but I do agree that retailers are, overall, cheeky with their profit margins, especially as these sooper-dooper Signature custom "Dutch" frames are actually made in Asia! Having said that, I splashed out on a Signature with a Rohloff about 17 years ago and while I'm not actually a world traveller like this young man, I have to say I've been more than satisfied with the bike and the service from the shop where I bought it and from Koga themselves, who honoured their contract (that's built in to the price structure too...in my case they had to have the frame remade because the first one cracked!). If you are mechnically-inclined, research-savvy, not risk-averse, and have the cycles (no pun indended) to work on it, as you probably know you can cut out the middle men and source quality components online to build a bike yourself for less money and which will probably be just as good. If I'm honest, personally I didn't need silky-smooth welds nor a bling metallic paint job with a custom signature inscription (it looks like they've dropped the latter gimmick now anyway). I also note that they've dropped some frame sizes which were previously available and that a bike specced like mine costs today about 1500 euros more than when I got mine! Ah, the delights of entrepreneurship and capitalism, huh?
Hi Alee, another great video thanks. I suppose you had to change the entire wheel set to switch to those new Schwalbe Pick-Up tyres as they only exist in 27.5"?
Thanks for sharing , this is a super bike with it’s amazing gear and configurations. Where can I custom order this bike with the gear and specs as in your video please?
Cool, but you didn't tell us about your hub dynamo or lights? You also omitted your likes and dislikes about your bike. I see you have the Edelux front light. I didn't think much of it so bought a Supernova E2 Pro 2 instead with rear light which are both very bright much brighter than the Edelux. Interesting that you have the belt tension so low, flapping around like a skipping rope. I have set the belt tension quite low as well on my Cube Rohloff hybrid bike, but no way as loose as yours. A looser belt is less strain on the Rohloff hub bearings.
Hi Alex, which Cube model are you riding? As far as I know the only bikes from Cube which allow a belt drive are the Travel and Hyde/Editor models, but they do not offer Rohloff as an option. I myself ride the Travel Pro with a Nexus 8, but I am considering to a switch to a Rohloff in the future.
@@varez93 I fitted the Rohloff hub myself soon after I got it as the Shimano Alfine hub it came with was terrible. It think it is a Travel Expedition/Trekking model, three years old now. Very happy with it. Like Alee I have had zero problems with the Rohloff hub and Gates belt. They are very reliable and pretty much zero maintenance.
I don't have anything new to add about the hub dynamo or lights. They work as well as ever, nothing to maintain - I've been using Schmidt stuff since I started touring when I was a teen. I included lots of things I liked in the video. And notably, I didn't like the tyres or waterproofing of the Cinq charger.
@@Cyclingabout Oh sorry I thought you were going to conclude with a list of dislikes and likes. Yes you did cover good and bad points of your bike and the various accessories as the video progressed. My bad. Yeah I too bought the Edelux 2 light, didn't think it was that bright or the spread of light that good so I wasted £150. I recently bought a Supernova E3 Pro 2 dynamo front light, a bit cheaper and it is much better - brighter, a better spread of light and better quality. I have SON, SP and Shimano dynamo hubs. They are all good. None have developed issues yet.
Hi Alee thanks for another great video i love your content and the effort you put into all your bike info its amazing so thank you. Could i ask a question please?. Im just in the process of ordering my Koga WorldTraveller-s and You mentioned in this video that you went a size up for a more upright position?. Im 170.5cm tall and my inseam is 78cm. Koga online recommend a 50cm frame. I have a back issue that i'm trying to work around so i want a more upright relaxed position was just wondering what you think size wise would work best and if you think it might be worth sizing up one? i cant get to try one as there is none near me in the uk. Cheers Mike
I cannot help with sizing without seeing you on a bike. But someone at a bike shop can! Go and get a proper bike fit from a shop that sells touring bikes.
I also prefer an upright position. I understand Cyclingabout would not want to take responsibility for a frame size choice, but for what it's worth, and assuming you've not already pulled the trigger, here's some real-world advice: I went to a bike specialist and based on his fancy measuring gizmos we ordered a frame size which I've always felt was too conservative/small. I've managed to get by with a stem extension and very comfy handlebar with lots of different grip positions, but overall I'd say also listen to your instincts rather than only to a bike shop's recommendations and don't be too obsessed with the height of the top tube in relation to your inseam. Having opted for 26 inch wheels for fear of worldwide spare parts availability, I would also recommend going for the larger size wheels instead, because I'm pretty sure these days spares can be found or shipped anywhere...given a bit of time and patience.
Interested in the make and model of water bottle cage you use, the ones that adjusts to the size of bottle you’re using. If you or someone in the comments community could give me the brand name I would really appreciate it.
Hey, the 50/22 combination is not original. The original is 50/19 teeth, isn't it? Why did you choose this gear ratio? Is it allowed for a Rohloff gear ? And how many teeth does your Gates belt have ? Have a good trip !
Great content as always. What are your thoughts on the new Schwalbe E-plus? I am thinking of using them on my Kona Sutra because I remember you writing that 700x45 might be the widest the Kona Sutra will fit with fenders.
Hi everyone, I know that the saddle that he uses on this video is the Selle Italia MAN Gel Flow, but which one was his previous saddle? If anyone’s knows that’ll be really helpful. Thanks
@@Cyclingabout I agree completely. That’s why it’s always a good idea to try the saddle before buying, although for a very brief moment, it doesnt necessarily reflect how you’ll feel after long rides. Thanks for posting very comprehensive videos on cycling! I’ve learned a lot from you.
What wheel/spoke combination do you have o your bike? Amazing durability. How should a wheel be built to achieve that result? I want some of that! Thanks :-)
Ditch the fenders, there are plenty of other alternatives. All the mud in between .. nahh. An aluminum frame is also a no-go. Suppose something needs to be welded. You will not succeed in a remote area. Just an old fashioned steel frame. In the end it's just as heavy. Anything that moves can also break. All those movable parts on your bike. The seatpost, your stem. It will eventually cost you more energy. But ..)) the Rohloff. yessss. I really like that. I wouldn't use the belt tho. Just use the cheapest chain. No friction when changing gears. The chain lasts for a long time. You can also turn the rear sprocket. It will also last a while. Bring a spare and you are 100% save
How did the drivetrain with the low gear inch setup hold up? Asking because I’m a heavier rider and getting out of the saddle while hill climbing would put quite a strain on it. Thanks in advance.
Saw your reports and was ready to buy one, but then I had miserable contacts with Koga who revealed they don't provide any type of customer support and then they referred me to a Koga dealer who has no information that I needed, such as the sizing (!) saying Koga doesn't provide them with a sizing chart and I have to contact Koga to get a size recommendation. Needless to say, there will be no Kogas ever in my future. There's absolutely no customer service and it would not surprise me from the way they answered if CS was outsourced as well. I guess if you're a sponsored rider on their payroll, things are great, but it looked like a company in its decline phase- when they're so disconnected from their dealer network, things are not going well.
Not saying it's a good idea, but their policy is to delegate customer contact to their dealers...so it looks like if there's no dealer network in a given country, there's no customer support either. A bit old-fashioned if you ask me, but maybe that's how they aim to keep a handle on the size and growth factor of their company.
@@nicknelson9450 Just an FYI: the parent company of Koga is in serious financial trouble and they might be one of the next companies to liquidate some bike brands or just go out of business. So that might explain their terrible CS. Also I found out since posting here that Alee Denham is a shill for the Saudi government and he was getting thousands of complaint replies on social networks and just started blocking people. He basically was invited and paid to tour around Saudi Arabia and demonize the international media for defaming Saudi Arabia and it was beyond obvious many things were staged. The Saudis also invited other outdoors influencers and cyclists, including at least one female who had an identically-structured script and showed how she, as a woman, could go anywhere in SA and had freedom and such and it was obvious she had handlers like Alee who sometimes were in the shots.
I'm always sending my ideas to KOGA and sometimes they bear fruit! KOGA are very meticulous with their in-house product testing, so don't expect anything soon. 😉
Really nice bike! But what is the rider and gear weight limit? Of course, nothing is listed on website. I want/need a bike with a minimum 350-pound limit, as I weigh 250-pounds. Any other bikepacking bicycle recommendations is appreciated!!
Weight limits are an interesting one. Until very recently, bike companies could only certify their frames to 136kg/300lb. So that's why 5.5kg road bikes and 17kg touring bikes often have the same advertised weight limit. But these numbers are a floor, not a ceiling. Most touring bikes are tested in-house to handle MUCH more weight than the ISO 4210 frame test, whereas a road bike frame is usually only be designed to handle close to the minimum (to keep its weight low). Last year, certification up to 180kg/400lb became available, so we will see advertised weight limits increase quite a bit over the next few years. This doesn't mean the frames will get stronger necessarily, but they will be certified for a higher weight. The official KOGA weight limit is 136kg/300lb. But unofficially, KOGA have told me they make exceptions for their customers with system weights over 160kg/350lb - one thing they often do is request that you use 27.5" wheels instead of 700C.
Hi Ive been watching your videos and website for months but never had a chance to say hi as a fan :) I noticed that your 60cm and 63cm frames are comparatively more upright than the other smaller aggressive sizes of the same bike. From your experience and knowledge, does upright geometry offer advantages than aggressive one for a touring bike? And have you experienced any disadvantages from one of your bikes with more aggressive geometry in the past? I was just curious. Anyhow, your videos have been very useful and inspiring to my biking experiences so far. Hope you stay safe! From Canada
It's really just a bike fit thing. If you're flexible with good core strength, there is no reason why you cannot ride very comfortably on a more aggressive bike, where you get the advantage of a lower wind resistance and less weight on your bum (but more on your hands). I come from a racing background, so my touring bikes have always been setup more aggressively than most. I haven't been racing in years, so it's time to see if I prefer something more upright to see if it sticks. My bike build will be finished tomorrow for its first ride!
@@Cyclingabout Thanks for your reply Alee. I know you are kindly replying comments here frequently, but when I actually saw that you replied mine with such care, I'm really stunned and surprised with amazing feeling that I get to talk with you. Watching your touring in South America and Japan, I had an inkling that you ride aggressively. And as a rider who's with a bike of aggressive geometry, I now know I don't have to worry too much if I should get a bike with more upright version. Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge and I'm looking forward to your next posts on how your build turned out!
@@parkjihong7148 I figure people can squeeze more knowledge out of the comments, so I'm happy to put the time into responding to everyone. All the best!
More upright? You must be getting old! I say this jokingly as I get chastised regularly for my tall head tube. Bodies change, as minds and opinions should too.
Great video, To be honest I've bought a bicycle on a Pinion and with carbon belt drive lately, and I have a huuuge problem with the brakes. They're good but I feel like braking speed is too slow. Right now I have mechanical disc brakes and I'm a bit afraid of using hydraulic ones. Do you recommend me to switch to hydraulic ones for around the world trip? I'm afraid that I won't be able to fix hydraulic ones while being in a desolate place.
I've used Shimano XT hydro brakes for all my travels since 2017. In my experience, as long as you bleed the brakes when they get a bit spongy, they will work without fuss. I won't be going back to mechanical brakes...
My Rohloff has a 203 disc and cable TRP Spyre, with a long compressionless housing and resin pads. It can grip solid INSTANTLY, any and every time. And it has a mount and adapter I made myself. Only 4,000 miles so far. I have Sturmey Archer levers set to long pull. I see ZERO reason for finicky hydro. My front hub is a SA XL-FDD dyno DRUM brake, actually have two now. The first one went 28,000 miles and it's now on it's 3rd bike. ZERO fuss ever in any weather. IMO, the BEST bike part ever made.... and yet I might be the only one who sees this. LOL. Even the cable did both tours and over 22,000 miles. New wheel now on my custom steel tour bike.
